Yi Peng lantern festival, Chiang Mai, Thailand Nov 15, 2024

Yi Peng lantern festival, Chiang Mai, Thailand

As twilight descends today, Chiang Mai, Thailand"s second-largest city, will come alive with thousands of glowing lanterns for Yi Peng. Held on the full moon of the second month of the Lanna lunar calendar, this celebration is about letting go of negativity and embracing new beginnings. The highlight of the festival is the release of "khom loi" or "khom loy"—floating paper lanterns—into the night sky, which becomes a sea of warm, golden lights. People often write their hopes and dreams on the lanterns. They gather around temples and palaces to send their wishes skyward, hoping for good fortune in the year to come.

© tampatra/Getty Images

palette

Today in History

Nov 15, 2018‘Ocian in view! O! The joy.’
Nov 15, 2019Mesmerizing murmuration
Nov 15, 2020What’s blooming in New Zealand?
Nov 15, 2021Manatee Awareness Month
Nov 15, 2022River otters at Acadia National Park, Maine
Nov 15, 2023Rapa Valley in Sarek National Park, Sweden
Nov 15, 2025Irohazaka Road in fall, Nikko, Tochigi, Japan

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Jan 14, 2023Feast of the Donkey
Mar 24, 2023Wild garlic in bloom at Hainich National Park, Germany
May 21, 2020A visionary artist paints his own garden view
Nov 29, 2023Rockefeller Center Christmas tree lighting
Feb 7, 2023Village of Labro, Italy
Jan 24, 2025Thorrablot: The Icelandic midwinter festival
Sep 9, 2018Welcome to ‘Hollywood North’
Jul 14, 2024La Geria wine region, Lanzarote, Canary Islands
Oct 3, 2021Birthplace of Roman emperors
May 7, 2019Spring comes to Glacier National Park
Dec 14, 2018Time to count some birds
Aug 3, 2025Blooming sunflowers
Dec 17, 2020Pining for spring
Nov 11, 2019On a Healing Field for Veterans Day
Jul 8, 2020It s only Wednesday
Oct 29, 2024Great horned owl
Nov 18, 2021Bohemian Switzerland
May 29, 2025Miravet, Catalonia, Spain
Aug 12, 2025World Elephant Day
Apr 1, 2021Why do elephants hide in trees?
Aug 15, 2022Indian Independence Day
Nov 21, 2018A showcase for future fame
Dec 24, 2019Dashing through the snow
Jan 2, 2023Hohenzollern Castle near Stuttgart, Germany
Oct 29, 2018In search of a ‘great’ pumpkin
Oct 7, 2021Great on so many levels
Nov 15, 2021Manatee Awareness Month
Apr 25, 2020Rockin with the rockhoppers
Jan 31, 2022Incense making, Vietnam
Nov 6, 2022New York City Marathon